Melbourne burgers: Huxtaburger vs Rockwell & Sons

Wow, how hard is it to go back to work after a four day weekend, guys? I’m struggling today. It’s 3pm and I’ve just checked my frequent flyer points balance because what better way to get over the holiday blues (even a small one) than to book another holiday? Despite it only being a three day trip, our little rendezvous to Melbourne over Easter was fantastic – lots of rest, some touristing and most importantly, no shortage of deliciousness.

We arrived lunch time Friday and headed straight for Huxtaburger. Ever since doing the burger run here in Sydney, every man and his dog has insisted that I go to Melbourne and try Huxtaburger. Supposedly, they create the exact burger that I like – soft bun, good meat, melty cheese, traditional ketchup and mustard goodness. Well, they weren’t wrong.

For $8.50, Huxtaburger is the closest thing I’ve had to a Shake Shack burger here in Australia. So simple, seemingly so easy, but somehow ludicrously hard to find. I loved it. Huxtaburger has literally just opened a branch in Melbourne CBD last week so here’s hoping they’ll spread their wings a little and head Sydney way some time soon!

Another camp of burger well wishers told me I had to also check out Rockwell & Sons. Located a stone’s throw up the street from Huxtaburger, Rockwell & Sons is more of a bar slash dining room, whose burger is apparently also magical. So, guess we just had to try it!

For $10, you get this soft sesame seed bun, oozy cheese and juicy meat goodness.

We had dinner at Rockwell & Sons, so there was more food to be had. Devilled eggs, pressed rib sandwich (yum!), hickory smoked onion rings and something a little different to finish, watermelon laced with chilli and lime.

So which burger is better? That’s a tough question – Panu likes Rockwell & Sons, I like Huxtaburger. But here’s kind of how we explain it: Huxtaburger is a really lunch time burger, the ketchup and mustard somehow makes it casual; Rockwell & Sons on the other hand feels a little more formal and suited to dinner. Although really, there is no “right” time to eat a good burger.